"The matter has already concluded, so this immortal shall take her leave..."
Cloud Retainer prepared to leave the room, her movements very swift.
"Cloud Retainer, please wait. Recently, many exquisite new dishes have appeared in Liyue Harbor. Why not stay a while longer to experience the mortal world before departing?"
Cloud Retainer stopped in her tracks.
"Ahem. This immortal still needs to take Shenhe for training... Shenhe's fate currently requires her to stay away from the mortal world... Moreover, this immortal has not collected that many Mora used for transactions in the mortal realm..."
"Cloud Retainer, you have gifted me something so precious. I also want to do something for you in return. Let me handle the matter of Mora.
After all, Shenhe's fate has not yet been triggered, and you have already tied the red rope on her. Letting the child enjoy a good meal before leaving the mortal world is also a good thing."
"Do not look down on this immortal. This immortal's culinary skills are not something mortals can easily match. However, taking Shenhe for a proper meal does make sense."
Cloud Retainer reached out and handed the old uncle a small box.
"You are inviting this immortal to eat for a period of time, so this immortal will not treat you poorly either. This box is a divine music-playing device. Its internal structure is exquisitely ingenious—an immortal-crafted item that would be considered a top-tier treasure even if sold in the mortal world..."
Faced with Cloud Retainer, who was hesitating to stay because of mortal cuisine, the old uncle naturally chose to accept and collect Cloud Retainer's gift. From now on, it seems there will be music to listen to during wilderness adventures.
"By the way, under what identity did Cloud Retainer enter the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? It couldn't be as an adeptus, right?"
"Adepti in the mortal world need to conceal their immortal traces to avoid trouble. This immortal used the identity of your second aunt."
"Wouldn't that be taking too much advantage of Cloud Retainer?"
"No harm. It is merely a one-time identity anyway."
Cloud Retainer did not seem to mind much.
But speaking of which, isn't little Hu Tao being a bit too well-behaved?
He and Cloud Retainer have been talking for so long, yet she's not making any fuss.
Little Shenhe is an introverted girl, so it's normal for her not to join in the adults' conversation.
Little Hu Tao...
At this moment, little Hu Tao was playing with a red Pyro Vision.
Hm...?
A Pyro Vision?
Shouldn't Hu Tao have obtained her Vision only after her grandfather passed away, when she went to the border and comprehended life and death?
"Hu Tao, your Vision..."
"Hehe! Old uncle, I'm not telling you!" Little Hu Tao appeared very mischievous.
"This child kept staring blankly at you after you fell into a deep sleep. Earlier, when she saw your eyelids move, she climbed onto you. Then this immortal personally witnessed the Vision appear the moment you hugged this child."
Cloud Retainer unceremoniously exposed little Hu Tao's secret.
"Aunt Xianyun!" Little Hu Tao seemed a bit anxious.
Hm? Because she's entering the mortal world, she's using the name Xianyun in advance?
"Alright, alright. Little Hu Tao, you can't beat Aunt Xianyun. Don't use too much force—the old uncle just woke up and won't be able to hold you back."
The old uncle smiled and pulled the pretending-to-struggle, wanting-to-fight-Aunt-Xianyun little Hu Tao back into his arms.
Perhaps his entry into a state of suspended animation due to the death energy had frightened little Hu Tao?
And then just now, when I came back to life and firmly subdued this little milk dumpling in my arms...
This might also be a kind of enlightenment between life and death.
"The medicinal porridge is here!" Hall Master Hu came in carrying steaming hot porridge.
"Aunt Xianyun, please trouble yourself to first take little Eula back to her room to rest."
"You child, you've changed so much—why still call me aunt? Call me big sister."
Indeed, both Cloud Retainer and the old uncle were guarding against adults but not against children.
In short, after waking up in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the old uncle welcomed his own warm and cozy moment.